Carton gluing and closing machine



Sept. 26, 1950 1'. E. PIAZZE 2,523,713

CARTON GLUING AND CLOSING MACHINE Filed Sepi. 27, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 26, 1950 'r. E. PIAZZE 2,523,713

CARTON ewmc AND CLOSING MACHINE Filed Sept, :27, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illl Ill/[III] IN V EN TOR.

p -26,1950 T, E. PIAZZE- 2,523,718

' CARTON GLUING AND CLOSING MACHINE Filed Sept. 27, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 WM. WW

T. E. PIAZZE CARTON GLUING AND CLOSING MACHINE Sept. 26, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed.v Sept 27, 1946- INVENTOR.

T/zomi? Ha Patented Sept. 26, 1950 CARTON GLUING AND CLOSING MACHINE Thomas E. Piazze, Mount Vernon, Ohio, assignor to Shellmar Products Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application September 27, 1946, Serial No. 699,763

12 Claims.

This invention has to do with a machine for closing and gluing the inner and outer extension flaps of a carton carried on a horizontal mandrel, when the flaps are extended laterally and in vertical position to provide a bottom closure therefor.

Generally, it is an object of the invention to provide such a machine as above described with mechanism for first inwardly folding the inner flaps, mechanism for applying glue to both surfaces of one of the outer flaps, and mechanism for inwardly folding the glue applied flap against the inner flaps and folding the remaining fiap against the glue applied flap.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide such a machine as above described with a pair of oppositely disposed fiap folding members for first inwardly folding the inner flaps, a pair of oppositely disposed vertically reciprocable glue applying members for applying glue to opposite surfaces of one of the outer flaps and a fiap folding member for inwardly folding the glue applied flap against the inner flaps and another member for folding the remaining outer flap against the glue applied flap.

A specific object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism including a pair of oppositely disposed connecting folding members, or fingers, operating vertically and a reciprocating carriage having an actuating element, or cam bar, to operate the folding members simultaneously for inwardly folding the inner flaps.

Another specific object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism having a pair of oppositely disposed glue applying members, or rollers, operating vertically and a glue transferring element, or wheel, for transferring glue to the glue applying rollers for coating glue to portions of both sides of one of the outer vertical fiaps, the rollers being pivotally mounted and connected to open and close simultaneously, and an actuating element, or cam bar, for operating the rollers.

. A further specific object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism including a pivotally mounted fiap folding member and an actuating element for. operating the same for folding a vertically and laterally projecting flap of a carton having glue applied to both surfaces thereof between inner and outer flaps and another folding and pressing member for folding and pressing the outside flap of the carton against the glue applied flap.

e Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: a

Fig. 1 is a top plan view with parts broken away of a machine having gluing and carton flap folding mechanism embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of Fig. 1, partly in section and with parts broken away, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section and with parts broken away, illustrating a portion of the mechanism for closing the inner flaps of the carton, taken along about the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view, partly in section and with parts broken away, of the mechanism which includes a gluing member, or roller, and transferring member, or wheel, rotating in a gluing pot, taken along about the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary portion of the machine illustrating preferred mechanism for actuating the inner flap folding finger members, the glue applying members, or rollers, and the means for operating the mechanism for inwardly folding the flap having the glue applied to two surfaces between the inwardly folding inner flaps and the outer flap of the carton;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view of a portion of the mechanism for inwardly folding the glue applied p;

Fig. '7 is a top plan view of the mechanism depicted in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a bottom portion of a carton having inner and outer extension flaps of the type handled by the present machine, in which the flaps are folded and glued into bottom closure position;

Fig. '9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 illustrating an initial step in performing the foregoing operation depicting the inner flaps being folded inwardly prior to gluing one of the outer flaps;

Fig.'10 is a. view similar to Fig. 9 depicting the completion of the application of glue to both surfaces of one of the outer fiaps; and

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 illustrating the closing of the glue applied flap by a flap folding member against the inner flaps just prior to the pressing of the remaining outer flap against the glue applied flap by the flap pressing member.

The present invention is illustrated in part as being utilized in connection with a turret type of machine having mandrels or other carton holding members thereon for the purpose of, for example, as in the present case, carrying the cartons horizontally with the glue receiving flap vertically disposed to the gluing mechanism for the purpose of closing and gluing together the inner and outer extension flaps to provide a bottom closure therefor.

The mechanism for inwardly folding the inner flaps will first be described (see Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 7). Pivotally mounted in a suitable position on the machine is a pair of inner flap folding members, or flap tuck-in fingers, 29, 2B. These members have extensions 25, 2!, which are pivotally connected to a link 22, The upper member has an additional extension arm 23 carrying a cam roller,

carton, shown in dotted line position, will be tucked inwardly in the manner shown in Fig. 9.

Mechanism for applying glue to both surfaces of one of the outer flaps of the carton is provided to operate in such a manner that a glue pattern is applied immediately following the operation of tucking in the inner flaps by the members 20, 20. The gluing mechanism comprises two oppositely disposed glue applying members or rollers 43, 40. Preferably, these rollers are ribbed, or have raised portions, so that stripes of adhesive will be applied to both surfaces of the flap of the carton which is to receive the glue. In other words, a definite pattern of glue has been so chosen that it will not interfere with the subsequent operation of other members of the entire mechanism and is designed in such a manner that excess glue will not be squeezed from between the folded flaps of the carton bottom closure. The gluing members, or rollers, 40, 49, are rotatably mounted on arms 4|, 4i, and these in turn are pivotally mounted in a suitable manner on the reciprocating head. The rollers are preferably connected so as to operate simultaneously by means of a pair of meshed gears 42, 42, and are retracted by means of a spring (not shown). One of these gears carries an extension arm 43 having a cam roller, or follower, 44 mounted thereon. This cam follower contacts with a fixed element, or cam bar, 45 for actuating the glue applying rollers.

Disposed beneath the rollers is a glue transferring member or wheel 46 rotating in a conventional type glue pct 41. The wheel 48 is separately driven by a pulley 48 mounted on a shaft 49 to which the wheel it is secured. This transfer wheel 46 applies glue constantly to the ribbed surfaces of the rollers it, 46, except when the rollers are out of contact therewith during the operation of applying glue to one of the flaps of the carton.

In operation the gluing members are raised toward glue applying position with a reciprocating action immediately following the operation of the fiap folding members 20, 20, in inwardly folding the inner bottom closure flaps. As the reciprocating carriage is raised carrying with it the rollers 40, 40, the latter are retracted by spring action through their connection with gears 42, &2, so that they are substantially in contacting position. As the reciprocating head travels upwardly the adhesive contained on the rollers is applied to both surfaces, for example, in stripes as clearly depicted in Fig. 10. The glue applying rollers 49, 40, will be restored to contacting position with the transfer element, or wheel, 46 as the reciprocating carriage 26 is returned to its lowered position because of the cam bar 45 which is stationed in the path of the cam roller 24.

The mechanism for inwardly folding the glue applied flap against the inner flaps and folding the remaining outer flap against the glue applied flap completes the operation of forming the bottom closure. This mechanism depends primarily on a flap folding member, or finger, 60 for inwardly folding the flap having the glue applied to both surfaces against the inner flaps and another folding member, or curved presser bar, 6| for folding the remaining outer flap against the other surface of the glue applied flap (see Figs. 6 and 11).

The fiap folding member 60 is pivotally mounted on a standard behind the front of the reciprocating carriage 26. It preferably carries a pinion gear 62 which is meshed with a gear segment 63 on an arm 64 also mounted on a standard behind the reciprocating carriage 26. The arm M, and thus the folding member 60, is actuated by a rod 65 connected to a bell crank 61 which in turn is cam actuated by a cam roller 68 connected to a cam arm 69 and link 10. The action of these members, it will readily be seen, causes the closing of the glue applied inner flap as above described.

The carton being mounted upon a mandrel, which in turn is mounted upon a turret, is then caused to rotate out of the path of the above described mechanism and into the path of another folding member, or presser element, 6| (see also Fig. 1) which folds the remaining outer extension flap against the other surface of the adhesive carrying outer flap as the carton is being rotated on the mandrel by means of the turret. The presser member 6| is of sufiicient length to maintain the closure flaps pressed against each other between itself and the end of th mandrel as the carton bottom slides along the presser member until the glue is set, whereupon the carton is ready for the filling operation.

Since certain changes may b made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for closing and gluing together the inner and outer extension flaps of a carton horizontally disposed on a mandrel to provide a bottom closure therefor, the improvement comprising in combination mechanism for simultaneously inwardly folding said inner flaps, mechanism for applying glue to both surfaces of one of said outer flaps transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position and When the flap is in lateral vertical position, and mechanism operating transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position for inwardly folding said glue applied flap against said inner flaps and folding said remaining outer flap against said glue applied flap.

2. In a machine for closingand gluing together the inner and outer extension flaps of a carton horizontally disposed on a mandrel to provide a bottom closure therefor, the improvement comprising in combination mechanism, including a pair of oppositely disposed folding members, for simultaneously inwardly folding said inner flaps, mechanism for applying glue to both surfaces of one of said outer flaps transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position and when the flap is in lateral vertical position, and mechanism operating transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position for inwardly folding said glue applied flap against said inner flaps and folding said remaining outer flap against said glue applied flap.

3. In a machine for closing and gluing together 7 the inner and outer extension flaps of a carton horizontally disposed on a mandrel to provide a bottom closure therefor, the improvement comprising in combination mechanism, including a pair of oppositely disposed flap folding members, which members are pivotally mounted and connected to operate simultaneously for simultaneously inwardly folding said inner flaps, mechanism for applying glue to both surfaces of one of said outer flaps transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position and when the flap is in lateral vertical position, and mechanism operating transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position for inwardly folding said glue applied flap against said inner flaps and folding said remaining outer flap against said glue applied flap.

4. In a machine for closing and gluing together the inner and outer extension flaps of a carton horizontall disposedon a mandrel to provide a bottom closure therefor, the improvement comprising in combination mechanism, including a pair of oppositely disposed folding members and a reciprocating carriage having an actuating element to operate said folding members, for simultaneously inwardly folding said inner flaps, mechanism for applying glue to both surfaces of one of said outer flaps transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position and when the flap is in lateral vertical position, and mechanism operating transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position for inwardly folding said glue applied flap against said inner flaps and folding said remaining outer flap against said glue applied flap.

5. In a machine for closing and gluing together the inner and outer extension flaps of a carton horizontally disposed on a mandrel to provid a bottom closure therefor, the improvement comprising in combination mechanism for simultaneously inwardly folding said inner flaps, mecha- 6 nism, including a pair. of oppositely disposed glue applying members, for applying glue to opposite surfaces of one of said outer flaps transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position and when the flap is in lateral vertical position, and mechanism opersaid inner flaps, mechanism, including a pair of oppositely disposed glue applying members and a glue transferring element for transferring glue to said glue applying members, for applying glue to both sides of one of said outer flaps transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position and when the flap is in lateral vertical position, and mechanism operating transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position for inwardly folding said glue applied flap against said inner flaps and folding said remaining outer flap against said glue applied flap. 1

7. In a machine for closing and gluing together the inner and outer extension flaps of a carton horizontally disposed on a mandrel to provide a bottom closure therefor, the improvement com prising in combination mechanism for simultaneously inwardly folding said inner flaps, mechanism, including a pair of oppositely disposed glue applying members, which members are pivotally mounted and connected to open and close simultaneously, for applying glue to opposite surfaces of one of said outer flaps transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position and when the flap is in lateral vertical position, and mechanism operating transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position for inwardly folding said glue applied flap against said inner flaps and folding said remaining outer flap against said glue applied flap.

8. In a machine for closing and gluing together the inner and outer extension flaps of a carton horizontally disposed on a mandrel to provide a bottom closure therefor, the improvement comprising in combination mechanism for simultaneously inwardly folding said inner flaps, mechanism, including a pair of oppositely disposed glue applying members and an actuating element for operating said members, for applying glue to opposite surfaces of one of said outer flaps transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position and when the flap is in lateral vertical position, and mechanism operating transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position for inwardly folding said glue applied flap against said inner flaps and folding said remaining outer flap against said glue applied flap.

9. In a machine for closing and gluing together the inner and outer extension flap of a carton horizontally disposed on a mandrel to provide a bottom closure therefor, the improvement comprising in combination mechanism for simultaneously inwardly folding said inner flaps, mechanism for applying glue to both surfaces of one of said outer flaps transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position and when the flap is in lateral vertical position, and mechanism operating transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position, including a flap folding member, for inwardly folding said glue applied flap against said inner flaps and folding the remaining outer flap against said glue applied flap.

10. In a machine for closing and gluing together the inner and outer extension flaps of a carton horizontally disposed on a mandrel to provide a bottom closure therefor, the improvement comprising in combination mechanism for simultaneously inwardly folding said inner flaps, mechanism for applying glue to both surfaces of one of said outer flaps transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position and when the flap is in lateral vertical position, and mechanism operatin transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position, including a flap folding member and an actuating element for operating said member, for inwardly folding said glue applied flap against said inner flaps and folding said remaining outer flap against said glue applied flap.

11. In a machine for closing and gluing together the inner and outer extension flaps of a carton horizontally disposed on a mandrel to provide a bottom closure therefor, the improvement comprising in combination mechanism for simultaneously inwardly folding said inner flaps, mechanism for applying glue to both surfaces of one of said outer flaps transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position and when the flap is in lateral vertical position, and mechanism operating transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position, including a flap folding member, for folding said glue applied flap against said inner flaps, and another folding member for folding the remaining outer flap against said glue applied flap.

12. In a machine for closing and gluing together the inner and outer extension flaps of a carton horizontally disposed on a mandrel to provide a bottom closure therefor, the improvement comprising mechanism for applying glue to both surfaces of one of said outer flap transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position, a flap folding member operating transversely of the longitudinal axis of said carton when the latter is in horizontal position comprising a pivotally mounted folding member and a pivotally mounted actuating element for operating said folding member for inwardly folding said glue applied flap, and a folding and pressing member for folding and pressing the remaining outer flap against said glue applied flap.

THOMAS E. PIAZZE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 733,510 Redd et al July 14, 1903 1,832,262 Stimpson Nov. 17, 1931 1,857,680 Van Der Pyl et a1. May 10, 1932 

